Device for use in instructing infants to walk.



A. PERNA.

DEVICE FOR USE IN INSTRUCTING INFANTS T0 WALK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I8, 1915- Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

W I TNESSES: man/77 6 A TTOR NE Y.

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ALEXANDER PERNA, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR USE IN INSTRUCTING INFANTS TO WALK.

raeaeeel To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER PERNA, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Device for Use in Instructing Infants to Walk, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device, collapsible in form, calculated to be used in instructing infants in the art of walking, which device is so arranged, connected and constructed that while the child is secure against falling, it may be free to move backward and forward for a predetermined distance. Other and further objects reside in the providing of general details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which:

Figure 1, is a view in side elevation of the device in folded position,

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the device in working position, and

Fig. 3, is a view in cross-section thereof, drawn to an enlarged scale.

In the drawings 10, designates an elongated thin flat and narrow base, preferably mounted on rollers ll, casters or equivalent mediums in order that the device as a whole may be readily moved from place to place. Adjacent each of the four corners of the base 10, is an upright 12, preferably having hinged relation with the base as at 13'. Supported by the uprights and having hinged relation therewith as at 14:, is an elongated frame 15, preferably of the same outer dimensions as the base 10. As the hinged parts 18, and 14, are oppositely disposed the frame 15, may be folded down upon the base 10, with the uprights therebetween as clearly shown in Fig. 1, when the device is not in use. In order to maintain the frame 15, in the position shown in Figs. 2, and 3, foldable braces 16, may be utilized, which. are pivotally connected be- Patented Apr. 1?, 1917.

Serial No. 3 1,881.

tween the base 10, and one set of uprights 12. These braces are of ordinary and well un derstood construction and operation. Each side rail 17 ,of the frame 15, which rails are preferably of wood as is the general device structure, is cut away throughout its length upon its inner face, as shown in Fig. 8, and a metallic plate 18, is fitted'to the underside of the rail, as by screws 19, to form a groove 20. Fitted to the frame 15, so as to be slidable throughout the length thereof, is an apertured support 21, the laterally extended tongues 22, of which engage within the grooves 20, of the side rails 17, to permit of a slidable movement of the support but interlock the same against removal. The central opening or aperture 23, of the support maybe padded as at 2-1, and buffers 25, may be provided for the support as shown in Fig. 2.

In use an infant standing upon the base 10, is supported at the waist line by the slidable support 21, yet is free to move backward or forward without danger of falling and in this connection may grasp the inwardly curved portion of the support 21 so that when the buffers 25 abut against an end of the frame 17 the hands are not squeezed. By reason of this fact, achild is given con fidence and may readily learn to step out along the base. Particularly is this true if a person stands at one end of the device and instructs the child to come forward.

What I claim is:

A knockdown device of the class noted embracing a solid base forming a treadway immediately adjacent the floor or ground, the underside of which is countersunk and is provided with rollers mounted therein, an upright hinged to said tread-way adjacent each corner thereof and in alinement with a countersunk portion, a rigid frame hinged to the tops of said uprights in a manner to permit said frame and tread-way to assume a paralleling position in the collapsed position of the device, which frame follows the marginal-contour of and is of the same outer dimension as the tread-way, the side rails of said frame being grooved upon their inner faces, an apertured body support having tongues for trackingthrough said grooves, said support being provided upon opposite sides with inwardly curved portions and with buffers for abutting against the ends of the frame, and foldable braces In testimony whereof, I have hereunto disposed between said trefid-Way agd 2 p311 signed my name.

of uprights to permit 00 apsing 0 t e evice, the normal position of the device be- ALEXANDER PERNA' ing that of having the uprights abutting Witnesses upon the tread-Way and the frame abutting MAYER E. HERMAN,

upon the upright tops. WVILLIAM J. JACKSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

